MOUNT WASHINGTON - Near the end of the 2009-2010 Council city officials considered a measure introduced by then councilman Gary Lawson that would have permitted establishments with by-the-drink licenses to sell mixed drinks on Sundays after 1 p.m.

After hearing public comment from those opposed to allowing Sunday liquor sales and from local businesses that wanted to see malt beverages included in the ordinance, the council opted to table the issue and resolved to hold a "mock election" to gauge public opinion on the matter before taking any action.
On Monday, Jan. 10 the 2011-2012 Council met for its first regular meeting at the City Annex Building, where City Attorney Norman Lemme presented members with a revised version of the original ordinance for their consideration.
Stressing that the revised ordinance was not for first reading and explaining that it included malt liquor per the general consensus of the previous council, he asked that council members email their comments as to what they thought the terms of the "mock election" should be and how the ordinance should look.
Stating that he had conferred with Bullitt County Clerk Kevin Mooney and former Shepherdsville City Councilman Scott Ellis, who helped organize the vote that took place in Shepherdsville prior to the passage of its Sunday liquor sales ordinance, Lemme said Mount Washington could manage its own "mock election."
Thus far the city has requested a CD containing Mount Washington voters' registration information from the Secretary of State's office and determined that the city could use sealed ballot boxes and print their own ballots.
Now city officials must decide on terms such as how to man the poll, what is to be voted on and when and where the polling station or stations should operate, among other things.
Lemme said the necessary preparations could be made in a timeframe of four to six weeks.
In other business:
* Council members unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the city to borrow $9.5 million from the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority for the city's waste water treatment plant expansion project, which is currently under construction.
The city waited until a $1 million grant from the Kentucky General Assembly and local funds set aside for the project were spent before taking the state Revolving Fund Loan to put off accruing interest.
Mount Washington officials began working on expanding the city's treatment plant when the current plant began operating over its 900,000 gallons per day capacity.
The new plant will have the capacity to process 3.5 million gallons of water a day and accommodate a population of approximately 35,000.
The $12.9 million project is being constructed by Lexington water utilities contractor W. Rogers Company and will be operational by Dec. 14.
* With January marking School Board Member Recognition Month in Kentucky, the council unanimously approved a resolution of appreciation honoring Bullitt County Board of Education members Sammy Allen, Dolores Ashby, Lorraine McLaughlin, Tim Wiseheart and Gary Wooldridge.
"...Our school board members have demonstrated an unwavering commitment that the children of this community will receive an education that will benefit them for the rest of their lives and set them on paths to being solid citizens of this or any other community," the resolution stated.
* Councilman Barry Armstrong extended his sympathy to those killed and injured in the Arizona shooting that resulted in six deaths, including a nine year-old girl and a federal judge.
"Our thoughts are with those who lost loved ones and we wish those wounded a swift recovery," he said.
The next regular meeting of the Mount Washington City Council will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 24 at the City Annex Building on Branham Way.
The public is invited to attend.